This metric is based on the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) G4 Guidelines. It covers one of the requirements of Indicator G4-EN15 – ‘Direct– greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (Scope 1)’.

GHG emissions are a major contributor to climate change and are governed by the United Nations (UN) ‘United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change’and the subsequent UN ‘Kyoto Protocol’. Some GHGs, including methane (CH4), are also air pollutants that have significant adverse impacts on ecosystems, air quality, agriculture, and human and animal health. As a result, different national and international regulations and incentive systems (such as tradable emission permits) aim to control the volume, and reward the reduction of GHG emissions.

Direct (Scope 1) GHG emissions come from sources (physical units or processes that release GHG into the atmosphere) that are owned or controlled by the organization. This indicator covers the disclosure of the direct (Scope 1) GHG emissions, in CO2 equivalents, of the GHGs covered by the UN ‘Kyoto Protocol’ and the World Resources Institute (WRI) and World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) ‘GHG Protocol Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard’:

Carbon dioxide (CO2)

Methane (CH4)

Nitrous oxide (N2O)

Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)

Perfluorocarbons (PFCs)

Sulphur hexafluoride (SF6)

Nitrogen trifluoride (NF3)

Methodology

This metric is looking for the total direct (scope 1) greenhouse gas emissions in metric tonnes of CO2 equivalent:

For WikiRate researchers:

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Identify direct emissions of GHGs from sources owned or controlled by the organization, including generation of electricity, heating, cooling and steam, physical or chemical processing, transportation of materials, products, waste, employees, and passengers, and fugitive emissions. Biogenic CO2 emissions are not added to this calculation

Calculate the organization’s gross direct GHG emissions using relevant global warming potential (GWP) rates, in CO2 equivalents, during the reporting period, using the sources identified. Exclude any GHG trades, such as purchases, sales, or transfers of offsets or allowances

Reporting on this Indicator should include the following contextual information as a comment to the metric value:

G4-EN15-d: Report the chosen base year, the rationale for choosing the base year, emissions in the base year, and the context for any significant changes in emissions that triggered recalculations of base year emissions.

G4-EN15-e: Report standards, methodologies, and assumptions used.

G4-EN15-f: Report the source of the emission factors used and the global warming potential (GWP) rates used or a reference to the GWP source.